A computer that runs hot, roars or slows to a crawl under load is protecting itself. When the processor reaches its limit it cuts its own speed, and if that is not enough it shuts down.
The usual causes
- Dust packed into the heatsink fins, blocking the air the fan is trying to move
- Thermal compound between chip and heatsink that has dried out
- A fan with a worn bearing, which rattles, grinds or stops
- On liquid-cooled desktops, a pump that has reached the end of its life
What a thermal service involves
We open the machine, clean the fan and heatsink, renew the thermal compound and replace thermal pads and fans where needed, then check temperatures under load.
Gaming laptops
Gaming laptops need this more often than office machines. Some use liquid metal on the processor from the factory, which needs the right materials and careful handling when it is renewed.
Laptops without fans
Some thin laptops, including the MacBook Air since 2020, have no fan at all. They slow down when hot by design, and there is nothing to service.
Creative ITUnit 1 The Willows, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SYMonday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm